Sinead O’Connor Wants You To Know That Justin Bieber Is Being Sexualized And It’s All Our Fault

In obscure musical feud news, Sinead O’Connor is bringing some very important social awareness to the table. Most recently in the news not for her music but for accusing Miley Cyrus of “prostituting herself”, Sinead decided to open our eyes and minds up to the fact that Justin Bieber is being “sold on his sexuality.” While I don’t disagree that sometimes we forget that sexualization happens with males, too, and not just females, I’m not sure I completely agree that Bieber’s financial success is due to overtly sexual behavior, especially now that he’s very much an adult (in the legal sense only, of course).

‘”I think that people focus an awful lot on the female aspect to this, but it is also the males. The very young male artists who are practically children or look like children are also being sexualised. Justin Bieber is a great example. When he came along he was only 16 years of age. Obviously he was extraordinarily talented, so I’m not trying to negate that, but he was very much being sold on his sexuality.”

Hmmm…I don’t know, girl. Now, admittedly I was never a huge follower or fan of Young Justin Bieber’s career, but I don’t recall him being the shirtless, saggy-crotched, gyrating douche bag he is today back when he was 15 or 16 years old. I remember a young boy with a bad haircut, dancing and singing bubble-gum pop songs and throwing out the occasional wink or “flirty” gesture to the young gals in the audience. She went on to use Britney Spears as an example of the sexualization she’s referring to, and that much I agree with. Britney was posing sexually on the cover of Rolling Stone at 17 years old, and even her first breakout single, “Baby One More Time”, was full of sexuality and innuendos that aren’t necessarily appropriate for any teen to be referencing. At least we know Harry Styles is one young musician who isn’t down with selling sex.

I don’t know, maybe I’m just so jaded where Justin Bieber is concerned that I can no longer open myself up to the possibility that this is something we should dig deeper into where he is concerned. I think the issue of young male sexualization is important, and I don’t mean to imply otherwise. I just feel like her statements about Bieber here aren’t necessarily accurate. Thoughts?

Well, I feel like they’re not unfounded.
When Justin Bieber started out, most of the people I knew who called themselves his fans were obssessed with his looks, and literally nothing else. A few of my friends would actually pore over magazines filled with his pictures, literally had posters where they’d write stuff about his butt and whatnot and their screensavers were his topless pictures at the beach….it was crazy. Once, I was listening to the radio, and someone requested a Bieber song, and when the radio host asked her why she liked him, she replied ‘he’s so so hot and sexy’ (I swear) and when she was asked whether his music appealed to her, she just said ‘not much, he’s just really hot’. So, probably not to the extent of Britney or Christina, but definitely sexualised. But to an extent, yes.
I mean, you know, it’s like One Direction. Like, yeah, they’re cute as people and what not, but more than that, they’re objectified like crazy, right?
Also, it’s not so much the individual as the teams behind them who sell their sexuality. So maybe Harry isn’t down with it…but you know it’s his selling point.
Am I making any sense here?

ash

I think people take Harry’s flippant comments too seriously. He’s very much aware sex is one o their selling points, and he definitely plays to that angle in concert of his own accord.

As for 16 year old Bieber there were grown women admitting ‘crushes’ on him like it was no big deal so I totally understand where Sinead is coming from

fantasymother

I don’t see it. I mean, I simply don’t see any sexual attraction. I do remember being a teen and being attracted to young male artists but I just don’t see it…

Of course, my perception of him is enhanced by his “current look,” which is simian at best.

Sinead O’Connor is one of my favorite singers, but I find her commentary maddeningly conflicted. For instance, she brings up a solid point about Beiber here, yet she blames Miley Cyrus for a similar media portrayal. So JB is an innocent victim of media sexualization, but Miley is voluntarily prostituting herself? Seems like she’s a bit biased about this.